Machine for applying pouring spouts to containers

ABSTRACT

A mechanism is disclosed for applying a pouring spout to a container, such as, for example, the collapsible hopper-like metal spouts to cartons of sugar, rice or also liquid materials. The subject mechanism comprises a body which can be rotated about a vertical axis, a plurality of slidable members which can be reciprocated within said body, a conveyor mechanism for conveying and applying already formed pouring spouts, the individual assemblies of said conveying mechanism being universally connected to the slidable members aforesaid, a cam member affixed to the machine frame for guiding the individual assemblies along a preselected path. Means are also provided which are active when the assemblies travel along their preselected path, as guided by the cam members, for applying a pouring spout to a container. Anvil and hammer members are provided for clinching fastening pricks of the spouts after that they have been applied to the respective container.

United States Patent Taddei July 4, 1972 [54] MACHINE FOR APPLYING POURING SPOUTS TO CONTAINERS [72] Inventor: Carlo Taddei, Padenghe Sul Garda (Brescia), Italy [73] Assignee: Seal Spout Europe S.p.a., Castiglione 2,300,099 10/1942 Brucker ..1 13/] H 2,861,529 11/1958 Klausmann ..l13/l 11 2,892,430 6/1959 Klausmann ..1 13/1 H 3,523,512 8/1970 Plaessman ..29/208 B Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik & Holt [57] ABSTRACT A mechanism is disclosed for applying a pouring spout to a container, such as, for example, the collapsible hopper-like metal spouts to cartons of sugar, rice or also liquid materials. The subject mechanism comprises a body which can be rotated about a vertical axis, a plurality of slidable members which can be reciprocated within said body, a conveyor mechanism for conveying and applying already formed pouring spouts, the individual assemblies of said conveying mechanism being universally connected to the slidable members aforesaid, a cam member affixed to the machine frame for guiding the individual assemblies along a preselected path. Means are also provided which are active when the assemblies travel along their preselected path, as guided by the cam members, for applying a pouring spout to a container Anvil and hammer members are provided for clinching fastening pricks of the spouts after that they have been applied to the respective container.

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BY I CARLO TADDEI MACHINE FOR APPLYING POURING SPOUTS TO CONTAINERS This invention relates to a machine for automatically applying metal pouring spouts, more particularly aluminum pouring spouts, to cardboard containers.

Machines are known for this purpose, in which an aluminum strip, as properly shaped and coming from a feeding spool, is introduced stepwise into a shaping mechanism which imparts the final shape to a pouring spout with said strip as a starting material. The pouring spout is severed at the end and introduced into an assembly which comprises a conveying member for applying the pouring spouts, said conveying member having a thrust element, or hammer and an anvil element cooperating therewith.

The assembly is moved integrally with a chain along two parallel lines which are completed at their end regions by two semicircular laps. The assembly is moved with the pouring spout positioned in its own conveying and application member towards a station which applies the spout on cardboard containers, the latter being continually conveyed in attunement with the assembly along a path which is parallel to the path of said assembly.

The application of the pouring spout to a container takes place by inserting the spout conveying and application member into the interspace between two consecutive containers, whereas the anvil element aforementioned is shifted towards the interior of the container in confronting relationship with respect to that side of the container's wall which is intended to receive the pouring spout. Thereafter, the thrust or hammer element, which is mounted internally of the conveying and application element, is actuated in order to have the pricks of the pouring spout piercing the container wall, whereupon the hammer is recalled into the conveying and application member, the anvil is shifted upwards outside the container, and the conveying and application member and the anvil are withdrawn from the position intermediate between two consecutive containers.

The assembly continues to be moved along its preselected path towards the corresponding spout-forming mechanism in order to pick up another spout, to convey it towards another container-conveying element and to apply the spout to another container.

In the machines of this kind, each assembly which carries a pouring spout must be displaced, during the spout application stage, parallely of the container-conveying mechanism along a certain portion of its path, and it is just for this reason that the assemblies are driven by a flexible member, such as a chain or a pair of chains, which is moved along parallel lines which are completed as a closed loop at the ends by means of two semicircular laps.

Machines as indicated above are affected by the shortcoming of having a comparatively low working speed and, thus, a limited output, in addition to being comparatively bulky.

An object of this invention is to overcome the defects aforementioned by providing a less bulky machine which has a working speed higher than that of the conventional machines.

With this object in view, it has been envisaged to provide a machine for applying pouring spouts to containers, said machine comprising a cylindrical body carried by a framing so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of cylindrical chambers radially formed in said body perpendicularly to said vertical axis, and a stem which can be slid to and fro in each of said chambers and emerging through a certain span therefrom, a plurality of assemblies for transporting and applying said pouring spouts, said assemblies being universally connected to the free ends of said stems, two coplanar rollers idly pivoted to each of said assemblies, two cam guides formed in the top portion of said framing and respectively cooperating with said rollers so as to guide the assemblies along a preselected path, and means for actuating the assemblies in order to apply a pouring spout to a container whenever said assemblies are guided by said cam guides in such a way as to be moved rectilinearly.

A machine so constructed has a reduced size as compared with that of the contemporary machines, and is structurally devised so that the assemblies for conveying and applying the pouring spouts can be moved along the working path at a higher speed than that of the conventional types, that which affords an increase of the number of pouring spouts which can be applied in a time unit. The economical advantage thereof is apparent.

In order that the features of the subject invention may be better illustrated, a description will be now given, by way of example only and without limitation, of two preferred embodiments of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a machine according to the invention, with the head portion, in which the cams are formed, removed and wherein the outline of the cams has been indicated in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken along the arrow FofFlG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional detailview which shows the mechanism for orienting the conveying and spout-applying assemblies according to said alternative embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan detail view, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a plan view from beneath of the upper plate of the machine in which the cam guides for the assemblies have been formed.

Having now particular reference to the FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates a device for conveying containers 11 which, by way of example, are boxes of a rectangular configuration, said containers being positioned on a conveying device in a row, evenly spaced apart from each other by spreaders 12, the latter being integral with a chain, diagrammatically shown at 13, and driven in a conventional manner which has not been shown.

The conveying device forwards the containers 11 from a feeding source to a point which can be connoted as the Station A whereat the pouring spouts 14 are applied to the containers.

In cooperation with said conveying device, a framing, as generally shown at B, is provided, which receives the already shaped pouring spouts as prepared by one or more shaping mechanisms of conventional make, such as for example, those described in the US. Pat. specification Nos. 2,216,733 2,300,099 2,861,529 and 2,892,430.

The supporting framing B comprises a plurality of conveying and application assemblies for the pouring spouts 14, as generally shown at C, which are continually driven and universally supported at even distances apart by a body, which is rotatable about a vertical axis. The assemblies C are guided by cam guides so as to be moved along a preselected path. The cam guides compel the assemblies C to become positioned, along a path section, parallely and adjacent to the path of the container-conveying mechanism, at the level of the station A aforementioned, where each assembly C is actuated to apply a pouring spout to a container.

Describing now the machine the subject of the present invention more detailedly, it comprises a cylindrical body 16A which can be rotated about a vertical pin 17A and which carries the framing B aforesaid. In the cylindrical body 16A, and perpendicularly to the pin 17A, a plurality of cylindrical chambers 18A are fonned, which are arranged symmetrically in radial positions on two parallel planes.

To the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 16A, in correspondence with said chambers 18A, there are solidly aflixed, by screws 39, plates 40, from which sleeves 41 extend radially and coaxially with respect to the chambers 18A.

Stems, such as 19A, are slidably inserted in the chambers 18A and partially into the sleeves 41. From the free end of each stem 19A projects, out of the sleeve 41, an extension 42 terminated by a ring 43 which encircles a vertical pin 44. The

vertical pin 44 carries, rotatably with the aid of end bearings 45, a member 46 which supports the assembly C, to be described in more detail hereinafter. Moreover, the vertical pin.44, and thus the assembly C, are united to the upper sleeve 41 by rneans of a forked member 47, which, at one of its ends, which is bored, is pivoted to the pin 44 and, at the other forkshaped end, is pivoted, through the pin 48, to the lower arm 49 of a vertical connection member, generally shown at 50. The member 50, in turn, is pivotally connected in a rotatable manner, through end bearings 52, to a pin 51, the latter being affixed, by means of a dowel 56 (FIG. 4), to a tubular seating 53 integral with a resilient sleeve 54 inserted onto the upper sleeve 41 in an axially registerable manner by means of screws 55.

The supporting member 46 aforementioned and the connection member 50 are equipped at their upper ends, with arms 57'and 58, respectively, having, at their free ends, idle rollers 59 and 60, respectively.

The rollers 59 and 60, mentioned above, slide, respectively, in preselected cam guides 61, 62 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6), as formed in a fixed plate 63, the latter being supported on the body 16A and coaxially therewith.

Each assembly C comprises (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4) two bell crank levers 29 and 31, pivoted for rotation in the manner shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, at 32. The lower end of the arm 29 is passed througha slot 66 formed through an end of a plate 64 which is extended from the meinber 46 and perpendicularly thereto, and carries, pivotally connected as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a thrust member or hammer 67. The thrust or hammer member 67 is slidably housed, by means of side guides 69, in a body 68 which is integrally afiixed below the plate 64. In the body 68 is automatically introduced (in a conventional manner and thus not shown) a pouring spout 14 which has already been formed (FIG. 2). At the lower end of arm 37 there is, integrally affixed, an anvil member 70 which cooperates, as will be explained later, with the hammer 67. To the upper end of the arms 29, 31 are rotatably pivoted the respective rollers 33, 34 which cooperate with a cam member 35 at the station A where the pouring spouts 14 are applied to the containers 1 1 (FIG. 2).

The cam member 35 is active on the rollers 33, 34so as to cause the arms 29 and 31 to approach one another.

The operation of the machine described hereinabove is as follows.

Asthe body 16A is rotated about the pin 17A, the rollers .59," 60 are compelled by their respective guides 61, 62 to go along a preselected path (FIG. 1), and thus the respective arms 57, 58, whose rollers are pivoted, and the members 46, 50 solid with the arms 57, 58 are driven to rotation in the different positions as shown in FIG. 1.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 1, the rotation of the members 46 gives rise to to an orientation of the assemblies C about the vertical pin 16A, while simultaneously the rotation of member 50 originates, thorough the arm 49, the fork member 47, the pin. 44 and the extension 42, the reciprocation of the stems 19A and thus also the reciprocation of the assemblies C. These combined movements of rotation and sliding of the assemblies C is such as to compel same to go along a path which, through being maintained substantially circular, is parallel for the path section corresponding to the station A where the pouring spouts are applied, parallel to the conveying device for the containers 1 1.

At the station A, the body 68 which carries a pouring spout 14, is inserted between two consecutive containers, whereafter the roller 34 of the arm 31 contacts the cam member 35, which causes the rotation at 32 of the arm 31 so as to bring the anvil member 70 into the interior of a container and in contact with the wall thereof whereat the pouring spout is to be applied. At this stage also the roller 33 of the arm 29 enters contact with the cam 35 which causes a rotation, at 32, of the arm 29 and a consequential sliding of the thrust or hammer .67 into the body 68 so as to urge the pouring spout 14 out of the body 68, so as to insert the spout in the container wall where it becomes fastened by the pricks 36 abutting the anvil member 70 as can be seen in the sequence shown in the detail of FIG. 2.

Thus the assembly C aforementioned continues to be displaced along its preselected path again towards the shaping mechanism for the pouring spouts in order to receive a new spout and to repeat the cycle again.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an in line" conveyor has been shown but it is apparent that, by properly changing the profile of the cam guide 61, 62, the containers could equally well be fed by a circular conveyor.

Furthermore, by adjusting the axial position of the sleeves 54 along the upper sleeves 41 it is possible to vary the radial distance of the assemblies C from the rotation pin 17A of the body 16A and consequently the distance between an assembly and its next. This is a great advantage, since it permits thatthe machine may be used for inserting pouring spouts in containers of different sizes and placed at different mutual distances on the conveyor.

It will be understood that the number of the assemblies C can be varied at will without departing from the scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

ll A machine for applying pouring spouts to containers, comprising a cylindrical body carried by a framing in such a way as to rotate about a vertical axis, a plurality of cylindrical chambers formed radially through said body perpendicularly to said vertical axis, a stern slidably reciprocable in each of said chambers and projecting for a certain length therefrom a plurality of assemblies for conveying and applying said pouring spouts, said assemblies being universally connected to the free ends of the stems, two coplanar rollers idly pivoted on each of said assemblies, two cam guides formed in the upper portion of said framing and cooperating with said rollers, respectively, for guiding the assemblies along a preselected path, and means for actuating the assemblies in order to apply a pouring spout to a container when the assemblies are guided by said cam guides to move along a rectilinear path.

2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical chambers are formed symmetrically on two superposed parallel planes and that each of said assemblies is fastened to the free end of two superposed stems.

3. A machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said machine includes a plurality of sleeves solidly affixed to the circumferential wall of said cylindrical body coaxially to said chambers, said stem sliding partly in said chambers and partly in said sleeves, linked connection means for connecting each of said assemblies to the relevant superposed sleeves in an axial adjustment mode, either of said rollers being idly pivoted to said connection means, the other roller being idly pivoted to the assembly.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein each of said assemblies comprises a first and a second angular arm rotatably pivoted to one another, the free lower end of the first arm extending into a body which is a part of the assembly and receiv ing therein an already shaped pouring spout, a thrust member universally connected to the lower of the first arm and slidable within said body behind the pouring spout, an anvil member cooperating with said thrust member and affixed to the lower end of said second arm, two rollers rotatably pivoted, respectively, to the upper free ends of said first and second arm, a

cam member being provided, extending from the machine framing and acting on said rollers so as to cause the rotation of said two arms in such a way as to approach the thrust member to the anvil member for applying a pouring spout to a container and fastening it thereto.

5 A machine according to claim 2, wherein each of said assemblies comprises a first and a second angular arm rotatably pivoted to one another, the free lower end of the first arm extending into a body which is a part of the assembly and receiving therein an already shaped pouring spout, a thrust member universally connected to the lower end of the first and ad slidable within said body behind the pouring spout, an anvil member cooperating with said thrust member and afiixed to the lower end of said second arm, two rollers rotatably pivoted, respectively, to the upper free ends of said first and second arm, a cam member being provided, extending from the machine framing and acting on said rollers so as to cause the rotation of said two arms in such a way as to approach the thrust member to the anvil member for applying a pouring spout to a container and fastening it thereto.

6. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said machine includes a plurality of sleeves solidly affixed to the circumferential wall of said cylindrical body coaxially to said chambers, said stem sliding partly in said chambers and partly in said sleeves, linked connection means for connecting each of said assemblies to the relevant superposed sleeves in an axial adjustment mode, either of said rollers being idly pivoted to said connection means, the other roller being idly pivoted to the asembly.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein each of said assemblies comprises a first and a second angular an'n rotatably pivoted to one another, the free lower end of the first arm extending into a body which is a part of the assembly and receiving therein an already shaped pouring spout, a thrust member universally connected to the lower end of the first arm and slidable within said body behind the pouring spout, an anvil member cooperating with said thrust member and afl'rxed to the lower end of said second arm, two rollers rotatably pivoted, respectively, to the upper free ends of said first and second arm, a cam member being provided, extending from the machine framing and acting on said rollers so as to cause the rotation of said two arms in such a way as to approach the thrust member to the anvil member for applying a pouring 1 spout a container and fastening it thereto.

8. A machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said assemblies comprises a first and second angular arm rotatably pivoted to one another, the free lower end of the first arm extending into a body which is a part of the assembly and receiving therein an already shaped pouring spout, a thrust member universally connected to the lower end of the first arm and slidable within said body behind the pouring spout, an anvil member cooperating with said thrust member and affixed to the lower end of said second arm, two rollers rotatably pivoted, respectively, to the upper free ends of said first and second arm, a cam member being provided, extending from the machine framing and acting on said rollers so as to cause the rotation of said two arms in such a way as to approach the thrust member to the anvil member for applying a pouring spout to a container and fastening it thereto. 

1. A machine for applying pouring spouts to containers, comprising a cylindrical body carried by a framing in such a way as to rotate about a vertical axis, a plurality of cylindrical chambers formed radially through said body perpendicularly to said vertical axis, a stem slidably reciprocable in each of said chambers and projecting for a certain length therefrom a plurality of assemblies for conveying and applying said pouring spouts, said assemblies being universally connected to the free ends of the stems, two coplanar rollers idly pivoted on each of said assemblies, two cam guides formed in the upper portion of said framing and cooperating with said rollers, respectively, for guiding the assemblies along a preselected path, and means for actuating the assemblies in order to apply a pouring spout to a container when the assemblies are guided by said cam guides to move Along a rectilinear path.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical chambers are formed symmetrically on two superposed parallel planes and that each of said assemblies is fastened to the free end of two superposed stems.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said machine includes a plurality of sleeves solidly affixed to the circumferential wall of said cylindrical body coaxially to said chambers, said stem sliding partly in said chambers and partly in said sleeves, linked connection means for connecting each of said assemblies to the relevant superposed sleeves in an axial adjustment mode, either of said rollers being idly pivoted to said connection means, the other roller being idly pivoted to the assembly.
 4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein each of said assemblies comprises a first and a second angular arm rotatably pivoted to one another, the free lower end of the first arm extending into a body which is a part of the assembly and receiving therein an already shaped pouring spout, a thrust member universally connected to the lower of the first arm and slidable within said body behind the pouring spout, an anvil member cooperating with said thrust member and affixed to the lower end of said second arm, two rollers rotatably pivoted, respectively, to the upper free ends of said first and second arm, a cam member being provided, extending from the machine framing and acting on said rollers so as to cause the rotation of said two arms in such a way as to approach the thrust member to the anvil member for applying a pouring spout to a container and fastening it thereto. 5 A machine according to claim 2, wherein each of said assemblies comprises a first and a second angular arm rotatably pivoted to one another, the free lower end of the first arm extending into a body which is a part of the assembly and receiving therein an already shaped pouring spout, a thrust member universally connected to the lower end of the first and ad slidable within said body behind the pouring spout, an anvil member cooperating with said thrust member and affixed to the lower end of said second arm, two rollers rotatably pivoted, respectively, to the upper free ends of said first and second arm, a cam member being provided, extending from the machine framing and acting on said rollers so as to cause the rotation of said two arms in such a way as to approach the thrust member to the anvil member for applying a pouring spout to a container and fastening it thereto.
 6. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said machine includes a plurality of sleeves solidly affixed to the circumferential wall of said cylindrical body coaxially to said chambers, said stem sliding partly in said chambers and partly in said sleeves, linked connection means for connecting each of said assemblies to the relevant superposed sleeves in an axial adjustment mode, either of said rollers being idly pivoted to said connection means, the other roller being idly pivoted to the assembly.
 7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein each of said assemblies comprises a first and a second angular arm rotatably pivoted to one another, the free lower end of the first arm extending into a body which is a part of the assembly and receiving therein an already shaped pouring spout, a thrust member universally connected to the lower end of the first arm and slidable within said body behind the pouring spout, an anvil member cooperating with said thrust member and affixed to the lower end of said second arm, two rollers rotatably pivoted, respectively, to the upper free ends of said first and second arm, a cam member being provided, extending from the machine framing and acting on said rollers so as to cause the rotation of said two arms in such a way as to approach the thrust member to the anvil member for applying a pouring spout a container and fastening it thereto.
 8. A machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said assemblies comprises A first and second angular arm rotatably pivoted to one another, the free lower end of the first arm extending into a body which is a part of the assembly and receiving therein an already shaped pouring spout, a thrust member universally connected to the lower end of the first arm and slidable within said body behind the pouring spout, an anvil member cooperating with said thrust member and affixed to the lower end of said second arm, two rollers rotatably pivoted, respectively, to the upper free ends of said first and second arm, a cam member being provided, extending from the machine framing and acting on said rollers so as to cause the rotation of said two arms in such a way as to approach the thrust member to the anvil member for applying a pouring spout to a container and fastening it thereto. 